Chapter 112

R​ead o​n Ka​tReadingCafe

Charlotte’s pupils trembled.

“M-Marriage…? But I’m still young…”

“A young lady your age is more than sufficient. No, now is the perfect time. Hehe.”

Kairen’s lecherous laughter thickly filled the room.

His alcohol-laden breath vibrated unpleasantly.

“Above all, the Bloodbell family is in a precarious state right now. With the lord’s passing, and you, young lady, being the sole heir, yet you are…”

Kairen’s gaze swept across the room.

The dolls Charlotte meticulously crafted, decorations made of woven bones, a small altar surrounded by candles.

Kairen clicked his tongue.

“Making things like this. How pathetic.”

Charlotte flinched and stepped back.

Every place his gaze touched felt like her precious things were collapsing.

Kairen took a step closer.

“You can only maintain the family’s stability by marrying me. Otherwise, the family will fall into the hands of another, and you, young lady… will be sold off as a sex slave.”

“S-Sex slave…?”

Charlotte brought her hands to her mouth.

Her eyes widened, and terror flashed across her pale face.

Kairen smiled and said,

“So, young lady. Marry me.”

Charlotte sobbed and shook her head.

“B-But… marriage… I’ve heard it’s supposed to be with someone you love…”

Kairen shrugged.

“I love you, young lady. I can cherish you every night.”

“N-No… but…”

Kairen’s gaze turned cold.

“Could it be that you don’t like me? I am the commander of the Bloodbell family’s knights. I may be a bit older… but I’m stronger and more experienced than those young pups. I won’t be lacking as your partner.”

Charlotte stifled her sobs and shook her head again.

“H-Hng… still… I don’t want to…”

“You don’t want to?”

Kairen sighed deeply.

Then, he suddenly lifted Acneros, who was standing beside Charlotte.

“Then I’ll kill this cat. Black cats have been a symbol of bad omens since ancient times. The lord’s death might even be because of this creature.”

“N-No! Acneros isn’t like that! He hasn’t done anything wrong!”

“If you don’t marry me… I’ll skin him and use him as a magical ingredient. Cat’s fresh skin is quite valuable, you know.”

“P-Please… don’t do that…”

Charlotte knelt down and pleaded with her hands clasped together.

Tears streamed down, soaking her skirt.

Kairen’s breathing quickened at the sight.

“Then… will you marry me?”

“I… I will…”

“Khahaha.”

Kairen laughed with satisfaction and released Acronez.

“You’ve made a wise decision.”

Charlotte quickly embraced Acronez.

Acneros seemed unharmed, blinking up at Charlotte.

“Now then…”

Kairen began to remove his armor.

Pieces of metal clattered to the floor, and soon his naked body was revealed.

“…!”

Charlotte quickly turned her head away.

“Since we’ll be husband and wife soon anyway, let’s start sleeping together from today.”

“…Pardon?”

Charlotte was horrified once again, but Kairen was already lying down on Charlotte’s bed.

“The bed is a bit small. Well, it’s not too much of a problem.”

Charlotte trembled and froze in place.

Kairen beckoned to Charlotte.

“What are you doing? Come here. There’s no need to be shy.”

“T-This is… too…”

“Haa…”

Kairen frowned.

“Women should be obedient to men. Otherwise, they need to be disciplined. That’s how everyone is tamed.”

Charlotte shivered.

And she opened her mouth slightly.

“D-Do you know where Ramone is…?”

“That old man has left. He said he was tired of you doing strange things.”

Charlotte’s shoulders shook greatly.

Kairen grinned.

“Don’t worry. I’ll be here from now on. We’ll keep the wedding as simple as possible. There’s no one to invite anyway.”

“F-Friend… I have a friend…”

“A friend? Where would you have a friend?”

“I-I do… I want to invite my friend…”

“No. We will not invite any outsiders to this wedding.”

“P-Please…”

Charlotte knelt down again and begged.

Kairen stared at Charlotte’s face before slowly exhaling.

“Well, fine. But you’ll sleep with me tonight.”

“…Okay.”

“Hehe, then come quickly. It’s lonely lying here alone.”

“Y-Yes…”

Charlotte’s bare feet cautiously stepped onto the cold floor.

A chilling sensation traveled from her toes.

Her knees felt like they would buckle with every step, and her heart pounded.

‘I don’t want to… I’m scared…’

Her mind was filled with fear.

But she couldn’t say anything.

She felt like she shouldn’t.

Kairen might kill Acneros again.

Charlotte slowly put her leg onto the bed next to Kairen.

But then.

“Snore…”

Kairen closed his eyes and snored.

Charlotte stopped moving and stared at Kairen for a moment.

It seemed like he had fallen asleep.

‘Th-That’s a relief…’

Charlotte quietly retreated, embraced Acneros, and tiptoed out of the room.

“Where are you going?”

But a knight in armor stood in front of the door.

It was one of Kairen’s subordinate knights.

“The commander has ordered that you are not to leave the room for the time being.”

“Th-That’s…”

“Please go back inside.”

The knight spoke in an assertive tone.

In the end, Charlotte returned to the room and curled up in a corner.

With Acneros in her arms, her shoulders trembled slightly.

Drip, drip.

Tears fell onto the floor.

She tried to suppress her sobs.

Because Kairen might wake up if she cried loudly.

“H-Hng… hnghng…”

Above Charlotte’s small sobs,

“Snorrrrr… cough… snorrrr…!”

Kairen’s snoring echoed harshly.

“Hngh… h-hngh…”

“Snorrrrr…!”

Tears and snores.

Two breaths mixed into one air.

Thus, Charlotte’s terrifying night began.

◈

In the garden in front of the Norchell family’s mansion, roses with dewdrops raised their heads to greet the sunlight.

Warm sunlight poured down gently, and small birds flew between the branches, making clear sounds.

Across such a garden, Lucy quietly moved her steps today as well.

Softly, softly.

But then.

Thump… thump… thump…

The heavy sound of something thudding echoed.

Lucy slowly raised her head.

She was speechless for a moment.

“…”

Someone was approaching with the sunlight behind them.

It was Alex.

His upper body was bare.

His golden hair was wet with sweat and stuck to his forehead, and his solid abs and broad shoulders glistened in the sunlight.

Most of all…

Alex was carrying a log on his back.

Not just any log, but a rather enormous one…

A log that looked heavy enough for two or three children to sit on.

Alex lightly adjusted it with one hand and approached Lucy.

“Good morning, Princess. You look beautiful today as well.”

“O-Oh, hello… but… why are you carrying a log?”

Alex answered with a refreshing smile.

“This? I’m training.”

“Ah… I see.”

Lucy forced a smile.

Alex added with a satisfied expression.

“Strong trees embrace strong men.”

At the end of his sentence, wood shavings cascaded down from his shoulder.

Lucy stared at him for a few seconds before cautiously taking a step back.

“…Okay, good luck.”

After saying that, Lucy headed to the mansion’s drawing room as if nothing had happened.

The drawing room was quiet.

Camilla would probably come around noon.

Lucy took a quiet breath and walked towards the bookshelf.

“What should I read today…”

Lucy’s hand, which had been following the spines of the books with her finger, stopped.

『The Tamer of Steel』

“…Should I go with a taming story today?”

Lucy muttered quietly, took out the book, and flopped into an armchair.

The plush cushion wrapped around her body, and the sunlight streamed in softly through the window.

Just as she was about to open the book, the drawing room door opened.

“Princess.”

It was Godwin.

He looked at the book in Lucy’s hand and made an admiring expression.

“Oh, you have excellent taste as expected. 『The Tamer of Steel』 is a classic among taming stories. It’s a masterpiece that deals with taming, philosophy, the forging of the body, and the transformation of the inner self all at once.”

“I’m looking forward to it.”

Lucy smiled slightly.

Then Godwin handed over a small envelope.

“…What’s this?”

“It’s an invitation.”

“Again?”

“This one has a rather special content.”

“The last one was special too.”

Lucy quietly opened the envelope.

Inside was a vintage paper, and on it was a sentence written in a familiar handwriting.

———

I, Charlotte Bloodbell, will be making a vow of marriage tonight.

Although it may not have been the choice I wanted, I have decided not to run away.

So I have a favor to ask of you.

I would like you to be a witness to my vow.

If even just one person watches over me, I think I won’t regret this decision.

I will be waiting at Bloodbell Castle around sunset.

-Charlotte Bloodbell.

———

Lucy’s brow furrowed.

“Marriage…? Tonight?”

Lucy made a bewildered expression.

“Just yesterday, there was no such atmosphere at all…”

She sighed softly and carefully put 『The Tamer of Steel』 back on the bookshelf.

“…I’ll have to read this book later.”

Author Note

A/N (Author’s note):
Thank you for reading…! Sorry for being late!

Translator Note

T/N (Translator’s note):
If things doesn’t make sense, just make it make sense.

Yes, from now on, all nobles are incompetent of even security! 

Oh yeah, and I guess minecraft youtubers are running rampant as usual.